While government officials said that no adverse reaction was reported on the first day, reports emerged about cases of adverse reactions in Delhi, Telangana, and Maharashtra.
India Today reported that one severe , and 51 minor cases of adverse reactions after vaccination were reported among health workers in Delhi.
The Indian Express reported that Maharashtra had recorded 14 cases of adverse events, however, none were fatal.
The Indian Express also quoted Telangana public health director G Srinivasa Rao as saying that 11 mild cases of adverse reactions were noted. They experienced pain, giddiness, and sweating, which are the most common in any vaccination program, he reportedly said.
COVID-19 vaccination drive set to begin today; will be beginning of end of pandemic, says Harsh Vardhan On the eve of the vaccine rollout, Harsh Vardhan reviewed the preparations and visited the dedicated COVID -19 control room set up in premises of the health ministry FP Staff January 16, 2021 00:01:23 IST Representational image. AP
The Centre and state governments are set to carry out the world s biggest COVID-19 vaccination programme on Saturday (16 January) for three lakh healthcare workers. The Union health minister Harsh Vardhan said that the extensive exercise is probably the beginning of the end of COVID-19 in the country.
A total of 3,006 session sites across the country will be virtually connected during the launch at 10.30 am by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In view of the global COVID-19 situation, the Centre has decided not to have a foreign dignitary present at the Republic Day celebrations this year. It will be for the first time in over five decades that there will be no chief guest at the Republic Day parade
India will launch its COVID-19 vaccination drive from 16 January, with priority to be given to nearly three crore healthcare and frontline workers.
The decision, the government said on Saturday, was taken at a high-level meeting where Modi reviewed the status of COVID-19 and vaccine preparedness across states and union territories. After the detailed review, it was decided that in view of the forthcoming festivals including Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Magh Bihu etc, the COVID-19 vaccination will start from 16th January 2021, it said.
After healthcare and frontline workers, priority will be given to those above 50 years of age and the under-50 population groups with co-morbidities, together numbering around 27 crore, a government statement said.